City to buy lot for Butuanon settlers

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government is planning to buy a property in barangay Bacayan to be used as a relocation site for residents living along the Butuanon River.

The city government needs to remove the structures built within the legal easement strip to keep them from danger and to protect and preserve the Butuanon River Watershed.

The area is composed of seven adjacent lots that measure 6,220 square meters.

The whole property is valued at P13.9 million or P2,250 per square meter and can benefit more than 100 families.

It is owned by the Leyson family in Bacayan who agreed to sell the lot to the city government for the said purpose.

Under the law, the government can only purchase a lot for socialized housing at a price of P2,500 per square meter.

Barangay Bacayan is only about 500 meters from Talamban road.

The Butuanon River traverses the barangay and the environment department has been urging the local government units to clear the river of informal settlers.

The resettlement eyed in Bacayan shall benefit these people who will be evicted from the danger areas such as river banks and landslide prone areas.

The draft of the contract is still with the council’s committee on laws for review. The city council also referred the draft contract to the Local Housing Board.

In an opinion, the City Legal Office required the Leyson family to present a proof of ownership, which was not submitted to the legal office for review.

The draft contract stated that the seven lots, six of which have no titles yet, will cost P13,995,000.

Half of the cost will be paid upon signing of the contract while the other half will be paid when the title is finally transferred to the city government’s name. –/MBG (FREEMAN)